Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды

           ”

           Amaninthepressbesidemewrenchedroundwithaneffort,andstaredatmesearchinglythroughthedarkness.“Oh!”hesaid.“Ashavedchin.Whoareyou,friend,thatyoushouldcutabeardinsteadofcurlingit?Icanseenowoundonyourface.”

           Iansweredhimcivillyenoughthat,with“freedom”forawatchword,thefashionofmychinwasamatterofmereprivateconcern.Butasthatdidnotsatisfyhim,andasheseemedtobeoneofthosequarrelsomefellowsthatarethebaneofeverycommunity,Itookhimsuddenlybythethroatandtheshoulder,andbenthisneckwiththeold,quickturntillIhearditcrack,andhadunhandedhimbeforeanyofhisneighbourshadseenwhathadbefallen.Thefiercepressofthecrowdheldhimfromslippingtotheground,andsohestoodontherewherehewas,withhisheadnoddedforward,asthoughhehadfallenasleepthroughheaviness,orhadfaintedthroughthecrushingofhisfellows.Ihadnodesiretobeginthatlastfightofmineinaplacelikethis,wheretherewasnoroomtoswingaweapon,norchancetoclearabattlering.

           Butallthistimetheleanpreacherfromthemountainswassendingforthhisangryanathemas,andstillholdingthestrainedattentionofthepeople.AndnexthesetforthbeforethemthecultoftheGodsintheancientformasisprescribed,andthey(witholdhabitcomingbacktothem)maderesponseinthewordsandintheplaceswheretheoldritualenjoins.Itwasweirdenoughsight,thattime-honouredserviceofadoration,forceduponthesewildpeopleaftersolongaperiodofirreligion.